New York Art@Site www.artatsite.com John Quincy Adams Ward George Washington
Artist:

John Quincy Adams Ward

Title:

George Washington

Year:
1882
Adress:
Federal Hall, Customs House, Treasury Building
Website:
www.wikipedia.org:
In 1790, the United States capital was moved to Philadelphia and what had been Federal Hall once again housed the New York City government until 1812, when the building was razed. Part of the original railing and balcony floor where Washington was inaugurated are on display in the monument. The current structure, one of the best surviving examples of classical architecture in New York, was built as the country's first Customs House. Designed by John Frazee (sculptor), it was constructed ofWestchester marble and took more than a decade to complete. It opened in 1842.
In 1862, Customs moved to 55 Wall Street and the building served as one of six United States Sub-Treasury locations. Millions of dollars of gold and silver were kept in the basement vaults until theFederal Reserve Bank replaced the Sub-Treasury system in 1920.
The current building is well known for John Quincy Adams Ward's 1882 bronze statue of George Washington on its front steps, marking the approximate site where he was inaugurated as President in the former structure.
In 1920, a bomb was detonated across the street from Federal Hall at 23 Wall Street, in what became known as the Wall Street bombing. 38 people were killed and 400 injured, and 23 Wall was visibly damaged, but Federal Hall received no damage. A famous photograph of the event shows the destruction and effects of the bombing, but also shows the statue of Washington standing stoically in the face of chaos.